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The language situation in Kenya, and in particular the shift and choice of English, Swahili, and the indigenous languages in various domains.
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Kenya is a multilingual country in which over 50 languages are spoken; however, English and Kiswahili dominate in that they are given official recognition, while indigenous languages do not. English is used for official purposes and international communication, while Kiswahili is the national language and is used in the country by people from different ethnic groups to communicate. Indigenous Kenyan languages, however, have not been officially recognized (Kembo, 1999). They are used at the household level and for interethnic communications. Even though recently, English and Swahili are regarded as languages of prestige and privilege because of the languages' potential for economic benefits, Kenyans place great value on their ethnic languages which carry their culture and identity. According to Kembo (1999), language does not only serve as a means of communication but as a marker of identity amongst the tribes of Kenya. In addition, language serves as an important symbol...
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